Aesica, Roman fort at Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, England
Aesica is a Roman fort along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England, with a rectangular layout and defensive towers at its corners. The structure featured three main gates with double portals and was strategically positioned to control access through a significant mountain pass.
The fort was built around 128 AD as the ninth garrison along Hadrian's Wall. Its construction was part of the Roman defensive frontier strategy in Britain to protect against invasion from the north.
The site reflects the presence of the Roman garrison stationed here, with evidence of soldiers and their families who lived at this remote frontier post. Archaeological discoveries reveal personal items and domestic spaces that shaped daily routines within the fort's walls.
The site is located a short distance north of Haltwhistle between two neighboring forts along the wall. Visitors should expect uneven ground and open, exposed conditions as the location sits in open countryside.
Water reached the fort through a remarkable aqueduct system that stretched for several kilometers from Haltwhistle Burn. This water supply solution was unique in its approach and differed from the methods used to supply other positions along the wall.
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